Our passion for all things transportation starts with Railroadiana.

Our passion for all things transportation begins with railroadiana. While trains still roll along America’s railroads, the aesthetics and craftsmanship of railroading’s golden age have all but vanished — surviving only through the artifacts that collectors preserve. At Rail & Road Auctions, part of our mission is to keep that history alive by connecting these pieces with new generations of caretakers.

As the only auctioneers in the Midwest specializing exclusively in railroadiana, we welcome inquiries about

  • Full Sized Railroad Equipment
  • Signals
  • Lanterns
  • Signs
  • China
  • Keys
  • Locks
  • Passes
  • Timetables
  • Paper
  • Builders Plates
  • Locomotive Hardware and More

Examples of Railroadiana that Rail & Road has sold for our consignors.

Since opening our doors in 2019, Rail & Road has grown from a small start-up operating out of a garage to the largest-volume railroadiana auction house in the United States.

Our team travels across the country to professionally pack and relocate collections to our 7,000-square-foot Lafayette, Indiana warehouse, where each item is carefully cataloged and photographed. Every sale reaches a national and international audience through multiple live and online bidding platforms, ensuring your collection receives the exposure it deserves.

Below the consignment form on this page, you’ll find highlights from previous auctions, including record-setting sales that demonstrate the strength of today’s railroadiana market.

If you’re wondering whether your collection or individual piece might be of interest to others, we encourage you to contact us. You’ll find us approachable, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about railroads and transportation history.

To learn more about Rail & Road’s commitment to our consignors and the full range of services we provide, we invite you to visit our Consignor Commitment page.

To say my experience with Rail & Road Auctions was expectational is an understatement.  The level of genuine interest and concern for the sale of my items far and away exceeded my expectations.  Derek took great pride in finding my pieces a good home while also maximizing their sale price.  Derek operators with honestly and integrity and I look forward to future business with Derek and his team at Rail & Road Auctions.

Bill Bader Jr., President of Summit Motorsports Park

Derek – nice work. Very happy with the results.

M.H., Rail & Road Automotive Consignor

Highlighted & World Record Setting Railroadiana at Rail & Road Auctions

Stainless Steel Santa Fe Alco PA Indian Head Sign

Sold For: $9250

Original Section of New York Central 20th Century Limited Red Carpet

Sold for a World Record Price of : $9250

Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Super Hudson #3462 Builders Plate

Sold For: $5000

Southern Pacific Railroad Mission San Juan Bautista Service Plate

Sold For: $2350

Pennsylvania Railroad Karny Tower Sign

Sold For: $2800

Large Chicago and Northwestern Railroad “Ride the 400 Fleet”

Sold For: $1845

Howard Fogg, New York, New Haven, & Hartford Railroad #773, Original water color painting, 28″ x 23″

Sold For a Record Price of: $23,800

Western Railroad Supply Co. Harp Style Wig Wag Railroad

Sold For a Record Price of: $9,520

American Locomotive Company / Alco New York Central Dreyfuss Hudson Framed Builders Photograph

Sold For: $2,380

Destination roll from the Rock Island Railroad train No. 5 “The Rock Island Rocket”

Sold For: $2,380

Beautiful Chicago and Northwestern Full Color Broadsheet – Enchanted Summer Land

Sold For: $1,845

General Railway Signal CB&Q Type K CTC Machine / Model Board – Brickyard to Lincoln, Nebraska

Sold For a Record Price: $16,660

Canadian National 4-8-4 Northern McAvity Five Chime Steam locomotive Whistle

Sold For: $4,640

Richmond And Danville Railroad Brass Heart Shaped Lock And Key Set

Sold For: $3050

Dickson Manufacturing Company Locomotive Builders Plate – Serial #799

Sold For: $5,850

Otto Kuhler Alco New Haven 1400 / I-5 Steam Locomotive Proposal Sketch w/ Remarque

Sold For: $2575

Rail & Road Auctions is a Proud Member of the Following Organizations: